"I thought we were excellent": Daryl Powell upbeat despite Wakefield Trinity loss to Hull KR
Mikey Lewis spoiled Wakefield's big Betfred Super League return by scoring the decisive second-half try
Mikey Lewis spoiled Wakefield's big Betfred Super League return by scoring the decisive second-half try as Hull KR extended their winning start to the new campaign with a 14-12 victory at the DIY Kitchens Stadium.
Oliver Pratt's last-gasp try for the home side threatened to set up a dramatic twist but when Max Jowitt's difficult conversion attempt from the touchline strayed wide, it sealed a second straight win for last year's losing Grand Finalists.
Fireworks and a sold-out crowd of 8,065 had welcomed newly-promoted Trinity back home having soared through the Championship last season then started the new campaign with a sensational 14-12 triumph over Leeds at Headingley last Saturday.
And once again they underscored their competitiveness as Tom Johnstone's second-half try cancelled out an early effort from Tom Davies before Lewis' typically tenacious response ultimately proved just enough for Willie Peters' men.
Both sides had to reshuffle their halves after the opening round, with Tyrone May replaced by Peta Hiku for Rovers, while Oliver Russell stepped for Jake Trueman, the architect of Wakefield's success at Headingley, due to illness.
Both teams contributed to a gripping first period in which only Davies' early effort, which came with a touch of fortune after Lewis' kick bounced off the crossbar and fell nicely for the winger, separated the two sides.
Jowitt's superb tackle denied Joe Burgess the chance to extend Rovers' lead in the corner, and despite failing to muster any clear-cut chances, Wakefield got on the scoreboard after the half-time hooter when Jowitt was stripped of the ball by Jack Broadbent and kicked the resulting penalty.
Rovers restored their six-point lead through a Rhyse Martin penalty after a strong start to the second half, but Wakefield responded superbly, a sweeping left-to-right move sparked by Mason Lino and Oliver Russell sending Johnstone streaking in at the corner, before Jowitt's brilliant kick hauled the score back level at 8-8.
But Trinity's hopes of wresting the momentum were quickly dampened by Lewis, who held off Jowitt's tackle to burrow over for Rovers' second, which was duly converted by Martin.
Lewis, who was integral to the period of Rovers pressure that followed, limped up the tunnel with 10 minutes remaining, but the visitors looked equipped to ride out the final stages until Mike McIlorum was sin-binned late on for a high tackle on Lino.
Wakefield gave it one last shot, the excellent Pratt bursting through a rare gap to grab his side's second try in the corner with less than two minutes left on the clock.
But Jowitt's potentially match-levelling conversion was always a big ask, and when his kick strayed wide of the uprights, Rovers had effectively sealed another dramatic win.
Wakefield head coach Daryl Powell expressed pride at his side's performance in their first home game back in the top flight, and which was achieved without the chief architect of their Headingley win, Jake Trueman, who was ruled out earlier on Thursday due to illness.
"I thought we were excellent," said Powell. "It was a big effort and we were fractions away from going to golden point but we've lost a tight game and I think we can be proud of that.
"There was a period before Mikey Lewis scored when we'd scored and we made really big yardage, then we kicked it out on the full and conceded an off-load and Mikey scored and that was the game.
"But the last few weeks we've shown everybody that we've not tip-toed into this competition. I think we're a genuine team and I think we can be a pretty special team. I'm disappointed but proud. I think we're in a great place and we are just looking forward to it all."